Chapter I: Front Matter

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SIDELIGHTS ON CHINESE LIFE

* * * * *

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

The Imperial History of China

Being the History of the Empire as compiled by the
Chinese Historians

_SECOND EDITION NOW READY_

Enlarged and brought up to date. Royal 8vo, half calf.
L1 1s. net. To be obtained of

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUEBNER & Co., Limited,
Dryden House, 43 Gerrard Street, London, W.

* * * * *

SIDELIGHTS ON CHINESE LIFE

by

REV. J. MACGOWAN

London Missionary Society Author of "The Imperial History of China," "A Dictionary of Amoy Colloquial," "Pictures of Southern China," etc.

With Twelve Illustrations in Colour by Montague Smyth and Thirty-Four Other Illustrations

London Kegan Paul, Trench, Truebner & Co., Limited Dryden House, 43 Gerrard Street, W. 1907

[All Rights Reserved]

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited Bread Street Hill, E.C., and Bungay, Suffolk

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE CHINAMAN 1

II. FAMILY LIFE 21

III. CHILD LIFE 43

IV. RELIGIOUS FORCES IN CHINA 65

V. SERVANTS 94

VI. THE ADAPTABILITY AND TENACITY OF PURPOSE OF THE
CHINESE 112

VII. AMUSEMENTS 131

VIII. THE FARMER 150

IX. A RAMBLE THROUGH A CHINESE CITY 175

X. HADES, OR THE LAND OF SHADOWS 201

XI. A CHAPTER ON SOME OF THE MORE SHADY PROFESSIONS
IN CHINESE LIFE 224

XII. SCHOOLS, SCHOOL-MASTERS, AND SCHOOL-BOOKS 249

XIII. THE MANDARIN 272

XIV. PEDDLER LIFE IN CHINA 296

XV. THE SEAMY SIDE OF CHINESE LIFE 322

XVI. A TRIP THROUGH THE COUNTRY 346

LIST OF COLOURED PLATES

GOLDEN ISLAND (ON THE YANG-TSE) _Frontispiece_

AN IMPERIAL CONFUCIAN TEMPLE _To face p._ 65

THE WHITE STAR TEMPLE, NANKIN " " 89

JUNKS (ON THE YANG-TSE) " " 112

NETTING FISH " " 129

A FARM HOUSE " " 150

A HARBOUR SCENE (HONG KONG) " " 158

CHINESE FARMERS " " 169

A TEA HOUSE " " 225

A TYPICAL VILLAGE " " 249

ENTRANCE GATE (NANKIN) " " 272

CHINESE LOCOMOTION " " 346

UNCOLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS

A CHINESE GENTLEMAN _To face p._ 1

CHINESE EATING RICE AND DRINKING SAMSHU
(WHISKY) " " 9

A JOKE " " 17

SOME CHINESE BOYS " " 21

WOMEN CARRYING BABIES ON THEIR BACKS " " 24

AN OLD LADY " " 39

LITTLE URCHINS " " }
} 46
LITTLE LADS " " }

STUDIES OF CHINESE BOYS " " 51

A BOY CARRYING BASKETS " " 56

A SEDAN CHAIR " " 117

PLOUGHING WITH A WATER BUFFALO " " 124

A PASSENGER BOAT " " }
}126
A BOAT CARRYING SEDAN CHAIR " " }

A DRAGON BOAT " " 129

A STREET SCENE " " 131

ACTORS IN COSTUME " " 147

A BARBER AND HIS CUSTOMER " " 178

A REFRESHMENT STALL " " 184

A STREET SCENE " " 194

CARRYING A COFFIN " " 201

A BUDDHIST PRIEST " " 208

CEMETERIES " " 216

A SCHOLAR IN OFFICIAL DRESS " " 258

A POLICEMAN " " 280

A PEDDLER " " }
}296
A SHOEMAKER AT WORK ON THE STREET " " }

A PEDDLER " " 303

A WAYSIDE KITCHEN " " 317

FRUIT-SELLERS GAMBLING " " 327

A FAMOUS BRIDGE " " 361

_To face p. 1._]

Sidelights on Chinese Life